I was invited last month by the India/South Africa Business Summit in Johannesburg to be a guest speaker and to chair a panel discussion on the subject of Exploring Opportunities for Women’s Entrepreneurship in India and South Africa, and specifically looking at how women business builders can be the economic game-changers in both countries - a topic near and dear to my heart. We covered a number of important topics in the session, from how to break into new global markets, to how to access capital, to creating networks, and mentoring, through to how to create the supportive business environment in which women entrepreneurs can grow. But perhaps the most engaging part of the session was when women entrepreneurs in the audience found their voices, pitched their businesses, challenged the status quo in the business environment, expressed their frustrations at the barriers to entry, and looked to find solutions amongst themselves. If more of us find our voices in business, make our pitches heard because they are well prepared and compelling to those decision-makers who are listening, and speak out when change needs to happen, and we do this as a collective, we can make our voices make a difference.
Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie